FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 10, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT
Anita Gallagher, Office of Mayor Marilyn Strickland, anita.gallagher@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5166
Julie Stoltman, Office of Deputy Mayor Woodards, julie.stoltman@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5164 

Mayor Strickland and Deputy Mayor Woodards Kick Off ‘My Brother’s Keeper Challenge’
-- Local Action Summit to be Held on Nov. 12, 2014 --

Tacoma, Wash. -- Mayor Marilyn Strickland has accepted a challenge issued by President Barack Obama that calls on cities to address opportunity gaps faced by young men of color.  The “My Brother’s Keeper” challenge seeks to build and execute plans to ensure that all youth can reach their full potential, regardless of the circumstances into which they are born.

“I accepted the President’s challenge because we must address this issue if Tacoma is going to thrive as a city. There are many organizations in Tacoma doing great work to close the opportunity gap,” said Strickland.  “From education to job training and hiring practices, our Local Action Summit will bring partners together to develop an action plan that intentionally helps our young men of color succeed.” 

"A key factor that determines whether minority youth advance in public, private or non-profit environments is whether or not they personally believe success to be achievable,” said Deputy Fire Chief Tory Green. “Simply put, the more minority youth see successful adults that look like them, the more ‘real’ reaching those same levels of success becomes.  For that reason, adult minorities holding high-level positions in all sectors of society must become more actively and visibly involved in their communities." 

“The ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ challenge will leverage the collective work already going on throughout our community, so that we can provide greater opportunities for boys and young men of color in Tacoma”, said Deputy Mayor Victoria Woodards.

The “My Brother’s Keeper” challenge provides for specific timelines as to when milestones must be met.  Within 120 days of the Local Action Summit, the working group must produce a report with recommendations.  The Local Action Summit will take place Nov. 12, 2014 at the University of Puget Sound.